Under pressure
I want to have my WIP done – revisions and all – by August 14. To that end, I’m pushing to get through the rough draft, sitting at the computer for hours, doing research, doing scene cards (I know, I said they freaked me out and they do, they really do) and writing.
All this for a self-imposed deadline. I’m so terrified of not having something in NY on an editor’s desk, and once I hear back from Susan on Surface….that’s it. It’s like….I’ll lose the momentum that’s built since I finalled in the GH in 2003. I’ve had something in NY constantly since that time.
I know I want to take advantage of my summer vacation, and get as much written as I can, but sometimes the idea just overwhelms me. Then I think, well, if I can’t get more than 2 pages written a day during summer, why would I ever want to quit my day job to be a fulltime writer?
So many questions. I’ve always been driven, never very good at relaxing, but maybe I need to give myself a day or two off a week.
And I’m thinking about what to do with Hot Shot. I’m still waiting to hear on three agents who have partials, so I guess I should hear what they have to say before I think about expanding it into a ST. I don’t want it to be rejected by all the ST houses and then the agent says, “Well, what do you want ME to do with it?” You know? There’s Cerridwen, like JoAnn said, but I wonder about trying for ST first.
You see how I push myself? Type A, that’s me. Ugh.
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About Me
- MJFredrick
- I'm a mom, a wife, a teacher and a writer. I have five cats and a dog to keep me company. I love bookstores and libraries and Netflix - movies are my greatest weakness.
Beneath the Surface
Breaking Daylight
Breaking Daylight Review
Where There's Smoke
Where There's Smoke Review
Bull by the Horns
Hot Shot Reviews
Hot Shot
11 comments:
It makes sense to hear what they have to say about it first, Mary. It's funny you mention single title because I was going to ask you if you planned to try that? I think that would be cool :) A day or two off a week might help your productivity on the days you do write. Sometimes a little refresher can be great for creative output.
Bonnie
I agree with Bonnie. It think that you should take off weekends to recharge your batteries, otherwise you'll be burnt out by the time you finish the book.
By the way you always have the best pictures of Gerard.
I agree w/Bonnie too. I know you'll totaly get it (and I'll try to not write a book this time) when I say I wrote for nearly a year straight. Then edited and wrote for six more months. I hit a real bad patch of burnout in january and I'm STILL trying to get my momentum back *sob*
Take it easy on yourself girl.
I agree about taking weekends to recharge, Mar. You don't want to wind up like me. At least I got a little burst last night and got five pages of women's fiction done. But I will need a lot more water in my well to make it to the end. Be good to you, Mar...like an athlete, sometimes you train hard, work hard, play hard...but if you go too far, you'll get a sports injury and you'll wind up on the sidelines. Balance, mon cherie...always the balance.
JoAnn
Mary, I totally understand the drive thing. Even on days when I write a few pages, I still sometimes feel like I didn't get the most out of my day because I didn't write more. But like the others said, sometimes a day off here and there is a good thing. It lets you recharge your brain by doing other things like working in the yard, watching movies, reading, whatever. It's great to have goals. Just don't fry yourself trying to get to them.
If I could just take those days off, guilt free.....ah, the joys of Catolicism ;)
I am thinking about ST. I'll have to add about 12,000 extra words, so that's....48 pages? EEK! It'd be the same for Surface.
So, recharging time. Time to read or watch movies, gosh that sounds good.
JoAnn and Cece, I'm glad you got writing again! I know you'll get back. You're just drained.
Trish, I know you and Janice and I have the same affliction. If I could do partials, I think that would take a lot of the load off. I could do those much quicker than whole books!
Thanks doll =) I don't even read (can't tell you the last time i actually FINISHED a book)--it's TV (usually crime shows like LAO and CSI) LOL
I know exactly what you mean. I usually have a brand new book every August, and this year I spent time doing revisions and new proposals. It's doable, with one of them halfway finished, but it'll be tough!!
I think waiting to expand until you hear from the agents is a good thing. And maybe take a deserved breather. Sometimes we need time away from writing in general to rest the brain cells. ;D - Kel
Cece, LOVE Law and Order! And those can be very, um, inspiring.
Michelle, if you've been doing revisions and partials you've been really productive. That's great! One of my friends pointed out today that if I don't get done in August, I can finish in September. Revolutionary, really. ;)
Kelly, my brain cells wouldn't know what to do with a rest! But yes, I think I'll hold off on decisions about Hot Shot till I hear from those ladies.
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